Sleep Apnea Testing

Sleep Apnea Testing

Sleep Apnea is one of the most common sleep disorders, in which breathing stops and then restarts again recurrently during sleep. Sleep Apnea is not just a condition of sleep loss, it also involves oxygen deprivation as the airway becomes blocked when throat tissues relax during sleep.

Sleep Apnea testing generally requires an overnight stay in a sleep clinic, with electrodes attached to your head and body, and tubes inserted in front of your nose and mouth. This setup makes for a difficult night of sleep on top of existing issues, and, because the clinics need to be staffed all night, is relatively expensive. Our Sleep Apnea test can be done in the privacy of your home in just two nights.

1

How can a Sleep Apnea Test help me?

Even with a bed partner who can observe you and note your sleeping habits it can be difficult to diagnose Sleep Apnea. Getting to sleep in a sleep lab is difficult for most people, and for those who are chronically tired, the night in the lab can make things even worse. If you do not sleep deeply enough, you are less likely to show the symptoms of sleep apnea.

The ease of doing the test at home will help you relax and make for a more accurate result. The Sleep Apnea test will give your Gordon Medical practitioner insight to contributing causes of fatigue, poor concentration, hypertension, headaches, or daytime sleepiness to name a few.

2

What does a Sleep Apnea Test involve?

You start by contacting the Sleep Apnea Technician at our office. They will ask you a few questions regarding your height, weight, and measurements of your head and neck, and give you instructions to access an online questionnaire.

The Sleep Apnea machine will be shipped to your home. Once you are ready to do your test, you need to make sure your forehead is free of oils and lotions. You need to sleep alone for two nights, as the machine will pick up other people snoring or their movements. The room needs to be quiet; no TV or radio can be on.

You will apply the Sleep Apnea headband as instructed. The headband collects oxygen saturation, nasal airflow, pulse rate, snoring, head movement, and REM/NREM sleep patterns, and records it in the memory in the head band. Once your two night Sleep Apnea test is complete, you ship the kit back to our office. Your Sleep Apnea Technician will connect it to the computer and send your results to Sleepmed, where they process the results. A sleep specialist will evaluate them and send them to your Gordon Medical practitioner.

3

What conditions can a Sleep Apnea Test help?

The chronic sleep deprivation that comes with Sleep Apnea results in daytime sleepiness, slow reflexes, poor concentration, and an increased risk of accidents, as well as increased risks of developing dementia. Sleep apnea can also lead to other serious health problems over time, including diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and weight gain. Sleep Apnea is not just a condition of sleep loss, it also involves oxygen deprivation, as the airway becomes blocked when throat tissues relax during sleep.

4

Do I need a prescription for a Sleep Apnea Test?

You will want to discuss your concerns of Sleep Apnea with your practitioner. If a Sleep Apnea test is needed, your Gordon Medical practitioner will refer you to the Sleep Apnea Technician in our office. You will want to check in with your practitioner regarding your result 2 weeks after your Sleep Apnea test. While a diagnosis of Sleep Apnea can be scary, it is a treatable condition.

5

How do I schedule a Sleep Apnea Test?

Appointments can be made Monday through Friday with our Sleep Apnea Technician.

The test requires two nights. The Sleep Apnea machine only records for 4 hours a night. Once you have reached this amount of time you can take the head band off and go back to your normal sleeping position until your second night.

7

Is there anything I can/should purchase?

No, you do not need to purchase anything for your Sleep Apnea Testing.

8

How can I prepare for my Sleep Apnea Test?

To prepare you will need to make sure your face is free of oils and lotions. You will need to have a room where you can be alone for at least four hours of sleep, free of any background noise like the TV or radio.

9

What happens if I have Sleep Apnea?

There are a variety of treatments that can be used for sleep apnea. Some patients may need to see an Ear/Nose/Throat doctor to check whether there is an issue with those areas. Sometimes losing weight is sufficient.

If you need to use a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine, don’t worry! The new units are extremely quiet, and have technology to make the air pressure more tolerable than in the past. The masks used with the machine are getting lighter and more comfortable all the time. Many people adapt well to CPAP treatment. If you have difficulty with any aspect, contact the ordering doctor. There are lots of adjustments that can be made to make treatment work for you.